Shamcey Supsup Gown Recycled? Miss Colombia Wore Gown Previously?

Is Shamcey Supsup’s Miss Universe gown recycled? Has the Alfredo Barraza gown been worn previously by Miss Colombia? This is the controversy stirring online right now as the Miss Universe 2011 comes to a close with the finals set to start in a few hours.

Pictures of the gown worn by Miss Pilippines Shamcey Supsup during the Miss Universe 2011 preliminary competition and a gown worn by Miss Colombia, Carolina Robayo, have been placed side by side and the gowns look to be one and the same. Shamcey Supsup was wearing an Alfredo Barraza gown and Miss Colombia was also wearing a Barraza creation. Upon careful inspection though, I think they are two different gowns. The material may be the same but the cut and placement of the patchwork are are exactly the same.

But even if it’s the same gown, what’s so wrong about it? Beauty pageants, just like the Academy Awards and other big fashion events, have always been venues for designers to showcase their work. Stars/contestants get free use of the dresses and the designer gets the publicity. That’s the way it has worked for quite some time. Some of the world’s biggest stars do it so why should it be wrong for Miss Philippines Shamcey Supsup?

In other online sites the comments are quite disturbing. Many are questioning why our candidate, Shamcey Supsup, has to wear a ‘recycled’ gown? One comment even asked if we are so poor that we cannot afford to buy our own gown for our Miss Universe candidate.

Here we go again. The bad Pinoy trait of always seeing the bad side of everything has once again come to the fore. What’s wrong with using something that has been used before, by another candidate in the same pageant. The important thing is, they’re not wearing the design in the same pageant. Besides, what’s more important is the wearer and not the gown. They don’t judge the gown. Judges give points on how the candidate looks and moves in what she’s wearing.

And the question of poverty: YES, WE ARE POOR. The Philippines is a poor country. Accept it. We cannot and should not go on thinking that we can keep up with other candidates who are lavishly subsidized by their governments. And there is nothing wrong with being poor. At least the people behind Shamcey Supsup are making full use of the resources available to them.

Should Shamcey have worn a gown made in the Philippines by a Filipino designer? Yes. But that’s another issue altogether that only the Binibining Pilipinas can answer. They may have their own reasons to choose this gown for Shamcey.

Shamcey Supsup was praised for her poise and glamor wearing this Alfredo Barraza creation. In fact, pageant observers have said that the gown has helped Shamcey get the attention of the judges and, most probably, their votes. Whether it was borrowed, recycled or a hand me down is immaterial.

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